Chapter 016 Chapter 16
Chapter 16
"No!" Yu Ronghua moved on her knees, and her slender jade fingers tightly grasped the hem of Yan Shiyu's dragon robe. "Ruan Yun is a concubine in the palace. If you really want to reward her, gold and silver jewelry are fine."
Concubine Shu was almost unable to hold back her smile. She leaned against Yan Shiyu and agreed with Yu Ronghua for the first time, "Yes, the maids in Yunling Pavilion were carefully selected and had their fates. If she passed away suddenly, wouldn't that make others unhappy?"
If this slave girl really entered Yunling Pavilion, it would be hard to say what she would do with the emperor in the future! She might seduce the emperor to never come to her place again, and it would also make her and the emperor estranged. Most importantly, if she is not in the harem, she will be out of control, and she might stir up trouble!
Yan Shiyu didn't say anything for a long time, and Ruan Jun's heart was beating wildly.
She knelt quietly on the ground. This was the first time she met the Empress. The Empress actually said such a thing in front of so many people, which would make enemies and attract attention. Could it be because she was jealous of her?
Ruan Jun had never thought that today's events would turn out like this. She had originally wanted to take advantage of the emperor's sympathy for Wen Yunu after she fell into the water and let herself serve Wen Yunu, but she didn't expect that she would attract the emperor's attention by mistake, and now she has become the focus of everyone in the room.
Everyone in the room was nervous, even Wen Yunu, who had been sobbing, stopped sobbing and stared at Ruan Jun with her peripheral vision, but all she could see was her calm gaze, nothing else.
Yan Shiyu lowered his eyes, clasped the white jade ring with his hands behind his back, and turned it back and forth. He spoke calmly with a cold face, but it could not cover up the majesty of the emperor, "There is no need to go to Yunling Pavilion."
"Let Ruan Yun serve in her palace."
Everyone in the harem breathed a sigh of relief when they heard Yan Shiyu's first sentence, but when they heard the second sentence, they couldn't help but look in the direction of Yan Shiyu's finger.
Concubine Ji was even more puzzled, with doubts in her round eyes. Why should Miss Ruan Yun be placed in her palace?
"Yu Ronghua and Wen Yunu have both made mistakes this time. They are not suitable to live together in Hanyu Palace. What does Your Majesty think we should do?" The Queen smiled. She was not discouraged by the Emperor's disapproval of her idea just now. Her face returned to its usual gentleness and warmth.
Yan Shiyu said coldly, "Each of you should stay in the palace and copy scriptures every day to meditate."
"As for the rest, the Queen will take care of it."
After saying this, Yan Shiyu led his men to leave Yuechun Palace.
The queen had the majesty of the ruler of the six palaces. "Send Yu Ronghua and Wen Yunu back to Hanyu Palace. I will send someone to pick up the scriptures that are copied every day."
Yu Ronghua stood up proudly, turned around and left.
Wen Yu stood up with the help of a palace maid, but her legs went weak and she almost fell to the ground. It had only been more than two months since the new bride entered the palace, and she was already under house arrest. It was not known when she would be released. Was she going to lose the emperor's favor and never see the emperor again?
The Queen saw Wen Yunu's distraught state but said nothing. She said in a calm tone, "Sisters, please return to the palace. You are all tired today."
Concubine Shu was the first to bow and leave. After returning to Qingyi Palace, Liu Jin placed a cup of hot tea in Concubine Shu's hands and said, "Your Majesty, do you want any snacks? I'll ask the kitchen to make them for you."
Concubine Shu sneered and refused to touch the tea in her hand. "Whenever I think of that bitch's enchanting face, I hate her so much that I can't eat anything."
Liu Jin also frowned and said, "Yu Ronghua kept her by his side. Could it be that he wanted to use that slave girl to compete for the emperor's favor?"
Concubine Shu dropped her teacup. "Of course it is! Yu Ronghua, that idiot, couldn't stop the slave from seducing the emperor, and let the slave catch his eye for nothing!"
Today, the emperor looked at the slave girl with eyes that were probing and wanted to get to know her better. She was standing next to the emperor and could see it clearly!
Liu Jin said worriedly, "The imperial physician said that Your Majesty should relax so that it will help you conceive a dragon child. Your Majesty, don't be angry about that slave girl. She is still in the harem anyway. Your Majesty can do whatever she wants."
Concubine Shu put her hand on her belly and leaned back, her face was charming and seductive, and she didn't show any anger just now, "You are right."
…
Fengyi Palace.
Qiyue put down the boiled medicine and said, "Your Majesty, is your head still hurting after going out? Can I help you massage it?"
Ran Xia stood aside with a worried look on her face. Seeing that the empress had not spoken for a long time, she called her softly, "Your Majesty..."
The queen's beautiful eyes left the medicine bowl on the table and she calmly picked it up. "Did you see her face?"
Ran Xia knelt down hurriedly. "It's been a long time since the incident happened. Even the emperor can't remember it clearly. Your Majesty should look forward."
Qiyue didn't know why Ran Xia said that, but seeing that the empress was in a bad mood, she was worried about her master.
The Queen's hand first touched the edge of the bowl, and then she took the bitter medicine and drank it all in one gulp. "I really need to look forward."
She wiped the medicine stains from her mouth with a handkerchief and said, "I am tired."
Ran Xia and Qi Yue helped the empress to sleep. When they stepped out of the inner hall, Qi Yue grabbed Ran Xia with a worried look on her face, "What's wrong? But what did the Concubine Shu do today?"
Ran Xia was very worried and shook her head and said, "Let's talk to her somewhere far away. Don't disturb the Queen's rest."
When no one was around in the inner hall, a string of tears rolled down from the corners of the queen's eyes, and soon buried themselves in her black hair.
…
When Ji Xuanshi left, she only brought Yicui with her, but when she came back, she brought three people with her.
Both the master and the servant looked unhappy. On the surface, Lady Ji seemed to be calm, but she occasionally bit her lips to reveal her nervousness.
Her father was only the Supervisor of the Yanzhou Trade, so she was lucky to be selected. She was named a selected concubine when she first entered the palace, which was much higher than other girls with good family backgrounds. Although the Yixiang Pavilion where she lived was far away, fortunately there was no queen in Xihua Palace, so her life was easy.
Entering Yixiang Pavilion, Ruan Yun politely performed the ceremony with Ji Xuanshi. Her face showed no sadness or joy, only calmness.
Ji Xuanshi clutched the embroidery handkerchief tightly, her eyes showing a complicated look.
Ruan Yun was still wearing her cloak. She could wear the simple and plain fabric in a unique way. The woman in front of her had her hair loose and her black hair fell on her shoulders in a messy way, but she still had a rosy face, with thin eyebrows and red lips.
The concubine Bei Chi bit her lower lip and sat down, "You go down and rest first."
Ruan Jun walked out of the inner hall, breathed a sigh of relief, and went to the ear room with an expressionless face.
As soon as Ruan Yun left, Yicui couldn't wait to ask, "My lady, what does the emperor mean by this? Isn't he trying to slap you in the face in public?"
The selection attendant shook her head. For someone of her status, how could she have such shame? "She doesn't seem like someone who would cause trouble. As long as she doesn't do anything out of line, let her be."
She had no reason to reject someone personally appointed by the Emperor. The only thing she could do was to keep him.
Yicui wanted to say something, but when she saw the gloomy face of Concubine Ji, her words got stuck in her throat.
…
After the little princess fell into the water last time, the emperor had lunch in Yuechun Palace every day, left after a rest, and never entered the harem at night again.
So seven days had passed.
The concubines in Fengyi Palace came to pay their respects much earlier than usual. No one was in the mood to talk, and even Concubine Shu sat there listlessly.
The Empress and Consort De were exceptionally patient and quietly enjoyed their tea and snacks.
I don't know which concubine who just entered the palace said, "In recent days, only Shen Chongyi has seen the emperor. Sister is really lucky."
Shen Chongyi looked at Consort Zhou and said indifferently, "The little princess is still frightened. The emperor has come to my palace more often because of the little princess."
Concubine Zhou said angrily, "I was wrong."
Concubine Shu touched the bright red nail polish on her hand and the large pearls on her hair, which made people envious. "Having a child is different, even if it's a princess."
The Queen raised her lips in a proper arc, "What Concubine Shu said is true. The Emperor is very busy with state affairs. If any of you sisters can give birth to another heir for the Emperor, I think the Emperor will be very pleased."
As soon as Concubine Shu walked out of Fengyi Palace, she started to speak: "The Queen is scolding me openly and secretly!"
Liu Jin hastened to dissuade her, saying, "Your Majesty, you are overthinking. I see that the Empress has no such intention."
Concubine Shu sneered, "Let's wait and see, who will have the heir first, that's really uncertain."
"How long has it been since Shen Chongyi came to Qingyi Palace?"
Liu Jin replied quickly, "Since the little princess fell into the water, she has not been here since."
Concubine Shu sat on the ceremonial carriage and tilted her head to look at Shen Chongyi's back as she hurriedly left. "I miss the little princess a little. Let Shen Chongyi bring the little princess to the Qingyi Palace."
Liu Jin agreed to Concubine Shu's words and walked towards Shen Chongyi's departing figure.
Yuechun Palace was not far from Qingyi Palace. When Shen Chongyi heard this, she was reluctant to leave. "The little princess has just recovered from a serious illness. If she eats in the palace of the queen, I am afraid she will pass on her illness to the queen."
Liu Jin said respectfully, "It is precisely because the little princess's illness has just been cured that she needs to go out more often. If she stays in the palace all day, I'm sure she won't be happy with her personality."
Shen Chongyi suppressed the grief in her beautiful eyes, told the wet nurse to pack up the little princess's things, and took the little princess on the ceremonial carriage.
…
Purple Palace.
Yan Shiyu pinched his brows. The Yellow River flood had just subsided, but the war in the south had never stopped. A large number of refugees poured into the capital, and many people died of hunger on the way. Many officials from all over the country did nothing and just drank and had fun, sleeping with prostitutes, and were having a great time!
Wei Maoyuan put away the memorials for the emperor. Seeing that it was almost noon, he was in a dilemma. "Your Majesty, do you still have to go to Shen Chongyi's palace for lunch today?"
After waiting for a long time, Wei Maoyuan finally got the emperor's response, "Yes."
Wei Maoyuan swallowed his saliva, "The Concubine Shu just sent someone to say that the Concubine has not seen the little princess for a long time, and asked Shen Chongyi to take the little princess to the Qingyi Palace."
Yan Shiyu chuckled, raised his eyes and looked over, his hands clasped on the table, "Teacher Yu Shican privately accepted bribes and secretly recommended officials. My Purple Palace is no longer able to accommodate these memorials."
Wei Maoyuan straightened the hat on his head and said, "How dare I discuss state affairs? Your Majesty, please don't make fun of me."
Yan Shiyu looked at the memorial on the table with a cold expression, "How is she?"
Wei Maoyuan was shocked. He didn't know what ability Miss Ruan Yun had that could make the emperor so reluctant to let her go. Not only did the emperor find a good place for Miss Ruan Yun, but he also made Miss Ruan Yun not look down on him so much. To be honest, Miss Ruan Yun was very lucky. However, Miss Ruan Yun didn't even have the slightest intention of thanking the emperor. She was a little ungrateful.
“That sounds good.”
Yan Shiyu pondered these words carefully, his dark eyes fell on the pearl flowers on the table, and when he stood up he said:
"Tonight we will go to the palace to select concubines."
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